Katerina Mateeva

I’m determined and committed to using my compassion and extensive knowledge of psychology to help people overcome adversities in life so they can reach their full potential. My path to becoming a marriage and family therapist started over 25 years ago when I began my own identity development. I was 15 years old when I read my first psychology book - Freud’s Introduction to Psychoanalysis - and I became fascinated with how the mind works. As I searched for meaning and purpose in my life, seeking to establish a sense of self, I developed a passion for deeply understanding human behavior and decided to get a degree in psychology. Once I understood my own inner drives and motivations, I knew that I could help others do the same. Helping others, on the other hand, is something my grandmother instilled in me from a very young age. She taught me about the importance of giving and serving beyond myself. Her unconditional love shaped me into the person I am today.

I utilize an eclectic modality of treatment that allows the therapeutic process to be a very personal one and meet the unique needs of each individual. I work with adolescents, adults, couples, and families ready for positive change. I specialize in trauma and identity development and find my work with adolescents very rewarding. At its core, my therapeutic approach is existential and focuses on the search for meaning, self-awareness, free will, and personal responsibility. I have experience with anxiety, depression, anger management, borderline personality disorder, codependency, grief, impulse control disorders, OCD, self-harming behaviors, stress management, suicidal ideation, family conflict, divorce, parenting issues, trust issues, body image, eating disorders, and self-esteem issues. My eclectic approach includes the following modalities: ACT, IFS, Adlerian, attachment theory, CBT, trauma-focused CBT, DBT, EFT, person-centered therapy, play therapy, existential therapy, experiential family therapy, positive psychology, psychoanalytic therapy, reality therapy, SFBT, strength-based modalities, structural family therapy, and contextual therapy.

The main goal of therapy, besides addressing unique, individual needs, is increasing self-awareness. I believe people are the experts of their lives. The problem is many people are unaware of their own needs and not in tune with themselves. In this ever-changing world we live in, so many people are focused on external factors and searching for external validation that they completely neglect their inner wisdom - a wealth of knowledge that can only be accessed through self-reflection.